WPL 2024: Kerala leggie Shobhana Asha spins RCB to victory over UP Warriorz

With 32 needed off four overs, UP Warriorz were in the driver’s seat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Hard-hitting batter Grace Harris (38 off 23 balls) in the company with Shweta Sehrawat (31 off 25 balls), brought Warriorz back into the match but they let it slip from their grasp and fell short by two runs in another Women’s Premier League (WPL) thriller at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.

If it was Sajana Sajeevan, on Friday with a last-ball six, it was the turn of another Kerala cricketer — Shobhana Asha, who became an overnight star in the WPL. The 32-year-old domestic veteran picked 5-22 and it was her last over of the spell that triggered the collapse. Asha picked up three wickets in her last over to turn the tide in UP’s favour. She removed Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris and Kiran Navgire in one over.

However, another uncapped India player Poonam Khemnar with her 7-ball 14 cameo kept UP in the hunt. UP needed 11 off six balls with Deepti Sharma, the team’s vice-captain at the crease. Deepti, who has been donning the role of finisher for the Indian team for almost a decade, failed to finish the match. It was not the first time that Deepti has failed to provide the finishing touch with her bat. With her on the crease, the Indian team have lost one too many matches from the winning position.

RCB at home in WPL opener at Chinnaswamy Stadium

RCB, who had a horrid run in the first WPL, losing five in a row in the inaugural season gifted their fans with a perfect start. RCB captain Smriti Mandhana received a thunderous welcome at the toss, the noise was more deafening than what Shah Rukh Khan got at the opening ceremony. Playing at their home venue in the second WPL, backed by probably the most loyal fan base in India, the home team managed to match the electrifying crowd with some quality cricket.

After being put into bat by UP Warriorz skipper Alyssa Healy, RCB had a steady start to the WPL game. They lost Sophie Devine (1) early. Mandhana looked in fine touch after the six she hit off Tahila McGrath’s bowling. She even got a reprieve but failed to capitalise on it and McGrath had the last laugh.

UP Warriorz dropped three catches, two of them were of S Meghna, who unlike her captain, made the most out of it. RCB No. 3, who was released by Gujarat Giants, scored a brilliant 44-ball 53. Meghna kept losing partners but she kept on hitting the boundaries as well. She rode her luck but kept RCB’s scoreboard ticking. Ellyse Perry too joined Devine and Mandhana in the hut as she perished cheaply.

Warriorz skipper Alyssa Healy made some smart bowling changes in the WPL game and rotated her spin-heavy attack wisely. At the halfway mark RCB were 64 for 3 with Richa Ghosh unable to find the gap, and Meghna was finding it hard to rotate the strike. It was over No 13, where RCB shifted gears. Meghna struck a six, while Ghosh hit a boundary and they collected 12 runs off Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s over. Ghosh went into beast mode and tonked Saima Thakor for four boundaries.

Meghna, who was dropped on 16 and 22 got to her maiden WPL fifty. The 71-run stand for the fourth wicket was finally broken by Gaywakwad, who got Meghna stumped and, in a span of two balls, she got rid of Georgia Wareham to bring Warriorz back. However, Richa, who had cut, whipped, slashed, pulled and driven in disdain was not done yet. Mcgrath faced the brunt as Ghos hit her for a hat-trick of boundaries and completed her half-century in just 31 balls. Deepti Sharma ended Richa Ghosh’s fiery knock, but Shreyanka Patil’s last ball six ensured RCB ended their innings with a flourish and put on 157 for 6 on a sluggish track.

For the Warriorz, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2/24), was the pick of the bowlers. Grace Harris, Tahila McGrath, Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma chipped in with a wicket apiece.

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